kreed5120

I just don't feel it's that big of a story. In 1995 there were 18 bowl games, this season there were 40, excluding the national championship. There have been plenty of other seasons when 7 MAC schools were bowl eligible. There just weren't enough bowl games for them all to get bowl slots.

With no TV deal and such low attendance numbers, I wonder how this tournament is funded? Perhaps the teams participating absorb the cost?

It might not be saying much, but I feel this piece is less negative than some of the other abj pieces. I kind of came away with the opinion that the Marla portrayed this as a stepping stone that only matters if Akron builds upon in years to follow. There is reason to be cautiously optimistic as the only other time Akron went bowling, they followed it up with 9 straight losing seasons. One 7-5 season in which Akron failed to beat any team with a winning record isn't going to instantly sway public opinion.

For a team like Akron who struggles to meet NCAAF 15k minimum standards, definitely. For a team like OSU who gets 100k+ either way, I'm not sure it matters much.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a requirement that teams surpass 15k average once every 2 years? If that's the case last years numbers likely weren't inflated much, if at all, but the school would have needed to guarantee that they hit 15k+ this year.

It's a pretty low budget tournament which explains there are no big name teams. Are the games even televised? It appears that team out east got into the more prestigious of the 2 basketball tournaments taking place in Vegas that weekend.

These teams might not be anything special, but our OOC schedule would look a whole heck of a lot better if we scheduled more UCSB/Iona teams and fewer Coppin State/Bethune-Cookman teams.

For clearly being low budget, I found it mildly humorous.

Personally, I don't see Bowden going anywhere. The market for 60+ year old FBS coaches isn't big. The typical MAC coach that gets poached is between the ages of 30-50

$$$. Extra games in the earlier rounds means more ticket, concessions, merchandise, and parking revenue. They then are still able to market their championship game as winner take all must see TV. Garber, the commish, will say it is so all fans get rewarded with a guaranteed home playoff game. Personally I'd like to see single game elimination throughout.

I feel I'm the only Zip here that was cheering for the Crew, however, Portland is my 2nd favorite team.

Dr Z & UAZipster I feel what you both don't realize is that Utah State is better than what their record indicates. They were missing their all-conference QB for 7 games. Had he stayed healthy, there is a good chance they would have been facing SDSU in the MWC championship game. I'm not saying USU is better than every team you listed, but at the same time when healthy, which they are now, they aren't a middle of the road MWC team. Their record the previous 3 years are 11-2, 9-5, and 10-4. They clearly are a pretty decently run program. Edit: I guess I'm more so saying is this is the type of team we need to beat in order to take that next step and be 9-11 win program that competes for MAC championships.

I'm with you cjapsu on this. A healthy Utah State team will be nearly as talented as any team we will face next season, excluding Wisconsin.

I'm fine with anywhere but Idaho.

We said the same thing about Coppin State as well. When our 3's aren't falling, nobody is an easy game for us.

Marshall was 1-12 from 3 land in the 1st half.

Was this the truck you saw http://m.imgur.com/Xtwy0Cq?If so, Portland Timbers has a guy who cuts a piece of a log off with a chain saw for every goal Portland scores. He then gives that piece to the player who scored the goal after the game. He's kind of their mascot if you will. They hauled the log to Columbus for the game.

We survived.

Toronto wouldn't be bad. I've always wanted to go, but never had a reason to.

That's why I specifically mentioned the cities that I did. If they were to schedule another bowl game up north, I feel the only outdoor facility they would consider is Soldier Field due to the prime market size and the fact Chicago attracts tourism. I included Indy because of its retractable roof facility and its knack for hosting large scale events.

It's a shame there isn't more bowl games in this region. A city like Indy or Chicago could make for a great location. Weather might be a concern Chicago, but Indy has a dome.

Did you see the scare they gave Florida last week? I don't know the teams story, but they certainly didn't look like a 2-9 team.

The MAC has 5 primary bowl tie-ins. It also holds a secondary tie-in to the Pointsetta Bowl if Army isn't eligible, which is the case this year. That ups the MAC guaranteed bowl slots to 6 this year. From there the MAC could sneak in a 7th or perhaps even an 8th (unlikely, but feasible) if a conference like the B1G, SEC, or another conference isn't able to fill all it's bowl slots with bowl eligible teams. This is why we are cheering for as many 5-6 teams as possible to get their 7th loss this week. There are 80 total bowl slots if there are only 80 eligible bowl teams, Akron is guaranteed a spot.